Report on new start
Is the successor to the Leopard 2 tank coming?
09/06/2023, 4:19 p.m
Several European partners are said to have recently signed contracts for an alliance to build a Leopard 2 successor. It could become competition for an already existing project. But manufacturers and authorities do not want to comment on the subject.
According to a newspaper report, Germany is making a new attempt to develop a successor to the Leopard 2. Under the leadership of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall, a new battle tank is to be designed with partners from Italy, Spain and Sweden, the “Handelsblatt” reported. citing industry and political insiders. The contracts for the alliance were signed a few days ago, and the partners now want to jointly apply for funding from the European Defense Fund (EDF). It’s about a three-digit million amount.
According to the newspaper report, in addition to KMW and Rheinmetall, the Swedish Saab and the Italian Leonardo are to be involved in the new main battle tank project. The battle tank alliance would be a competitor to the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) battle tank project decided by Germany and France in 2017.
The goal of this cooperation is the development of a common successor for the Leopard 2 and the French tank Leclerc. But the project doesn’t really get off the ground. The “Handelsblatt” reported, citing French government circles, that the MGCS tank project would be discussed at the planned Franco-German government meeting in early October.
The Federal Ministry of Defense has not yet received a statement on the report, and Rheinmetall has declined to comment. KMW declined to comment. The Ministry of Defense in Paris and the French Presidential Office were also unable to comment.